Caught in the act, two charged with attempted theft

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Their decision to retrieve a $1 bill leads to the arrest of two Lancaster County men on theft charges. East Lampeter Township responded to a call of a theft in progress at about 7:57 am Friday at the Highland Car Wash at 91 Glendale Drive.

Justin Michael Jenkins 24, of Lititz, and Andrew Michael McCracken, 25, of Lancaster were allegedly attempting to steal coins from the change machines by inserting a $20 and $1 bill that had a string of tape attached. The tape they hoped would enabled them to pull the bills back out after the coin change was released. The $20 was rejected and the $1 bill became stuck.

Jenkins and McCracken complained to an employee of the business and demanded their dollar back. The employee called the owner in to open the machine. The owner reviewed video surveillance and discovered the attempted theft. When police arrived the suspects were still waiting for their dollar to be returned.

Charges against both suspects include Criminal Attempt at Theft and Possession of Instruments of Crime. Following arraignment they were sent to Lancaster County Prison in lieu of $2,000 bail and unrelated probation violations.